Best Ever Albums

The Romanelli Music Diary: Mutations

Romanelli — Fri, 4 Sep 2026 13:36:53 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 09/04/2026 17:36

2442

Mutations (1998) by Beck

BECK
MUTATIONS
1998 – DGC
Produced By BECK HANSEN & NIGEL GODRICH

1. Cold Brains
2. Nobody’s Fault But My Own
3. Lazy Flies
4. Canceled Check
5. We Live Again
6. Tropicalia
7. Dead Melodies
8. Bottle Of Blues
9. O Maria
10. Sing It Again
11. Static

One of the great things about Beck is that he never makes the same album twice. After the multi-Platinum victory of his 1996 album Odelay, he made a sudden right turn away from the electronic and hip hop based music he was having huge success with and came out sounding completely different. His sixth album, Mutations, found Beck as a sudden folk rock and country artist, showing that he was a true musical chameleon. The album didn’t sell as well as Odelay, and it remains fairly misunderstood in the center of the Beck discography, but that does not mean it isn’t a very good album. Beck had originally intended to release it on a small independent label, but Geffen thought it was good enough to back out of that agreement and release it themselves without Beck’s permission. That led to a lawsuit that no one is sure has ever been settled, and to the eventual end of the relationship between the artist and label.

The songs here are more serious in nature than on Odelay. “Nobody’s Fault But My Own” is the best track, with “Cold Brains” and “Tropicalia” being excellent as well. Even though the album won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, it sold far less than Odelay, and didn’t have any US hits. It’s notable also that the album was produced by Nigel Godrich, who had just produced Radiohead’s great OK Computer album. The record was recorded quickly, as Beck and Godrich were trying to capture a more live sound with less studio trickery. The album shows that Beck can handle singer-songwriter territory with ease, and that his song’s don’t have to rely on samples and over production. Mutations is sometimes lost in the shuffle of Beck albums, but it’s well worth seeking out. Not his best, but still very good.

Link

Now Pat's What I Call Music!

Patman360 — Fri, 4 Sep 2026 10:22:51 GMT

Author: Patman360

Posted: 09/04/2026 14:22

1153

Oasis - Wonderwall

Link

Is it overplayed? Of course. But it's too much of a big deal to not include it here, it was something of a phenomenon and pretty much everyone knows it.

It was out over a year before it featured on NOW 34, and even the follow up single had made it on here, but they went back to it.

Anyway, here's Wonderwall.

26.

Ranking:
1. The Cranberries - Zombie (Now 29)
2. Boyzone - Love Me For A Reason (Now 30)
3. Weezer - Buddy Holly (Now 31)
4. Blur - Parklife (feat. Phil Daniels) (Now 29)
5. Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl (feat. Bubbler Ranx) (Now 34)
6. The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York (Now 10)
7. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Now 33)
8. Oasis - Live Forever (Now 33)
9. Blur - Country House (Now 32)
10. Pulp - Common People (7" Edit) (Now 31)
11. Pulp - Sorted For E's & Wizz (Now 32)
12. The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? (Now 2)
13. Sinead O'Connor - Mandinka (Now 11)
14. Oasis - Whatever (Now 30)
15. U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love) (Now 4)
16. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - Boom! Shake the Room (Now 26)
17. Spin Doctors - Two Princes (Now 26)
18. The Cranberries - Linger (Now 27)
19. R.E.M. - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight (Now 26)
20. Blur - Girls & Boys (Now 28 )
21. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (Now 33)
22. R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth? (Radio Version) (Now 29)
23. Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It (Radio Mix) (Now 31)
24. Spice Girls - Wannabe (Now 34)
25. Pulp - Disco 2000 (7" Mix) (Now 33)
26. Oasis - Wonderwall (Now 34)
27. Phil Collins - Something Happened on the Way to Heaven (Now 18 )
28. Oasis - Cigarettes & Alcohol (Now 29)
29. The Cure - Friday I'm In Love (Now 22)
30. Snead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (Now 18 )
31. Baltimora - Tarzan Boy (Now 6)
32. Duran Duran - A View To A Kill (Now 5)
33. The Housemartins - Happy Hour (Now 7)
34. Steve Winwood - Higher Love (Now 8 )
35. Wham! - The Edge of Heaven (Now 7)
36. Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart (Now 6)
37. Happy Mondays - Step On (Now 17)
38. (MC Sar) & the Real McCoy - Another Night (Radio Mix) (Now 29)
39. Oasis - Some Might Say (Now 31)
40. Oasis - Roll With It (Now 32)
41. The Cure - The Love Cats (Now 1)
42. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (Now 6)
43. Snow - Informer (Radio Edit) (Now 24)
44. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - Lost Weekend (Now 6)
45. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy (Now 14)
46. Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) (Now 32)
47. New Order - True Faith '94 (Now 29)
48. Enya - Caribbean Blue (Now 20)
49. Supergrass - Alright (Now 31)
50. Genesis - Invisible Touch (Now 7)

From the Black Mountain Hills of Dakota: Rocky's Log

RockyRaccoon — Thu, 3 Sep 2026 14:37:20 GMT

Author: RockyRaccoon

Posted: 09/03/2026 18:37

Was writing up a review on this album to post as a comment and then realized I should get back into this, so here we go:

This is where I take a second and defend “Love Beach” and say it doesn’t deserve the hate it gets.

Love Beach (1978) by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Look, I’m going to start right off the bat, it’s not a great album. The cover is atrocious, even the band said as much. Both Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer have said they hate the cover and said they look like the Bee Gees (and they kinda do). And Emerson has even gone further, saying the album itself was “an embarrassment against everything I’ve worked for.”

Now, I wouldn’t go that far, but I do think there’s good stuff here. ELP made this to fulfill a contractual obligation. Per Palmer, they had basically broken up as a band at that point and were just hanging out in the Bahamas together when Atlantic Records called and said “hey wanna make another album?”

All three members of the band have acknowledged the album was a bit slapped together, but even ELP on autopilot has some enjoyable music. The album opener, “All I Want is You” is one of ELP’s catchier tunes, “For You” is fun and features some cool Emerson synths, and the band’s interpretation of Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Canario” is enjoyable.

And of course there’s side two, which is entirely dedicated to “Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman,” which clocks in at just over 20 minutes. Now, is this another great prog epic from a band that’s created a few all-timers? No. But it’s an interesting piece regardless, featuring some great work from Emerson and some great vocals from Greg Lake.

“Love Beach” is a far cry from the heights that ELP hit as giants of prog rock years before, and the fact it was released in 1978 when punk was well underway and the public had long tired of the stuffy excesses of prog led to this album going over like a fart in church.

But I will always defend it. If you’re an ELP fan, it’s an enjoyable listen. It’s not their best, but it’s also far from terrible.

My Musical Musings by Johnnyo

Johnnyo — Wed, 2 Sep 2026 06:13:23 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 09/02/2026 10:13

Johnnyo wrote:

What a special gig it was last night at the Eventim Apollo (or as I still refer to it The Hammy Odeon) in Hammersmith, London. Still an icon venue despite the name change

Tewo great bands but I'm going to start with the headliners, The Black Keys

I've seen them before but not at a venue this damn good and what a wonderful performance. Dan Auerbach was simply on fire on lead guitar as the band, yes, played the hits, but also played some deeper cuts that were just brilliant. They also did four covers, the best of these being I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges and You Got To Lose by Earl Hooker

An added personal bonus for me was the addition of Little Barrie Cadogan as second guitar. I couldn't get to see him earlier in the year because of a clash of gigs so this, in a small way, made up for it

Fabulous gig, fabulous band

In support of The Black Keys was Robert Finlay and it's hard to think of a better band to support them than this fabulous blues and soul man.

I've seen Robert live before an he always delivers.

My discoveries per year

Repo — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:37:58 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 08/27/2026 19:37

I've got the PERFECT rec for ya when you get back to 1992...

Horseshoes And Hand Grenades (1992) by Chris Mars

Chris Mars is the drummer of The Replacements. Pretty sure you'll dig it!

Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

theredkrayola — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:40:45 GMT

Author: theredkrayola

Posted: 08/21/2026 19:40

A couple of observations about Freewheelin’. First, how does Girl from the North Country - a relatively trivial love song more or less plagiarized from an English folk ballad - warrant the same score as the savage and poetic Masters of War and Blowin in the Wind?
Second, it’s interesting to note that it doesn’t feel like Scaruffi’s take on this album is too different from other critics, despite the wildly different ratings. Other critics give it 5 stars, seeing it as a great and revolutionary album. Scaruffi rates it 5/10, seeing it as an album with three great and revolutionary songs surrounded by junk. Two different ways of looking at the same thing.
This does not apply for Revolver, A Rush of Blood to the Head, or probably any other album Scaruffi rates 5/10 that is lauded by critics: a critic who loves A Rush of Blood to the Head has a serious disagreement with Scaruffi. Yet somehow it doesn’t feel like a critic giving Freewheelin 5 stars contradicts Scaruffi very much

Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

DommeDamian — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:47:45 GMT

Author: DommeDamian

Posted: 08/20/2026 21:47

Thoughts on Erik Satie and also how his beautiful Gymnopédie No.1 is everywhere now?

Random Album Diary

MadhattanJack — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:08:26 GMT

Author: MadhattanJack

Posted: 08/12/2026 08:08

jnmayles wrote:

80s. Gross. I’m sure this is viewed favourably by heathens who view 80s pop favourably.

You kinda had to be there, I guess.

Media Log 2026

Facetious — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 16:23:56 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 08/04/2026 20:23

AfterHours wrote:

I was actually kidding… joking about how long you’d been away… but then I learned you really are! 🫢

Are you planning on continuing this log?

Lmao good guess!

But yes I am planning to continue. I keep making notes for myself to eventually update the log, just have to stop being lazy

DRIvel(s) circa 2015-2026

craola — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:22:34 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 07/13/2026 06:22

shye ben tzur / jonny greenwood / the rajasthan express
the second collaboration is nearly as good as the first, yet i seem to come back to it less than their first effort. hardly a fault with the record though. still leading my list for the year.

most mouse
take away their first four albums, and i doubt this'd be one of my favorite project of all time, but this album has something the group has not shown in quite some time, and it's probably my favorite record from modest mouse since good news for people who love bad news.

leila martial
i realize i'm alone on this hill, but leila martial is to me the most talented and creative artist on the planet right now, and she's hyped this album up big time for some time. unfortunately for me, you don't get the full experience here without the live experience, and i don't live anywhere near france, apparently the only place she does her enigmatic shows. it's a great record, but the disconnect between live and studio is palpable enough that it didn't land atop my chart like i had expected.

DommeDamian review of Knock Madness.

BorderFreeAndrew — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:58:54 GMT

Author: BorderFreeAndrew

Posted: 07/12/2026 18:58

While I don't revere the album quite as much as Damian, I found it very unique and enjoyable. One of the better albums of 2013.

Let's Get Progressive: Progging into 1984

Fischman — Sat, 2 May 2026 15:05:09 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 05/02/2026 19:05

Progging into 1984...

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Аквариум(Aquarium) - День Серебра (Day of Silver)
Year: 1984
Score: 60
Style or Subgenre: Prog Folk
My Rank in Year as of this listen: 62nd
My first 1984 selection comes from behind the Iron Curtain, a rare Russian underground recording a half decade before the end of the Cold War. Prog Folk is often the least prog sounding of prog subgenres, and yet it is a style I generally take to. However, this one is kind of a yawner for me. Proggy or not (mostly not), I just don't find it interesting, and the overly subdued vocals don't help.

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Congreso - Pájaros De Arcilla
Year: 1984
Score: 80
Style or Subgenre: Prog Folk
My Rank in Year as of this listen: 20th
For my second 1984 choice I stuck with Prog Folk, but hopped back to this side of the pond, however going far south of the border. Congreso is a Chilean prog folk outfit and, while they had often similarly subdued vocals, the music here was far more interesting throughout. The compositions are delicate and draw the listener in in a most inviting manner. The instrumentation is more diverse, employing both modern musical tools along with traditional Andean sounds. The result is unique, listenable, and highly engaging. A real winner.

My Longhair Diary: Benedict Anton Aufschnaiter

Fischman — Sat, 2 May 2026 14:27:40 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 05/02/2026 18:27

Benedict Anton Aufschnaiter - Serenade Della Pace
Year: 1778
Cοncerto Armοnicο Budаpest
Rating: 3.75 Stars
This is a very nice classical serenade, but it can easily fall into the trap of becoming a little too staid. A great choice for when you want something fairly straightforward and proper.

Link

American, Underground

Johnnyo — Sat, 2 May 2026 08:56:36 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/02/2026 12:56

The Complete Live At Raji’s – Dream Syndicate

It’s not one of the greatest live albums of all time. It IS THE GREATEST LIVE ALBUM OF ALL TIME! I love this album for so many reasons.

The Dream Syndicate's Live at Raji's was recorded on January 31, 1988 at Raji's nightclub in Los Angeles around the time of the recording of their Ghost Stories (which is a rather underappreciated album IMO but that’s for another day)
I’ve seen Dream Syndicate live so many times that I’ve lost count (including a great gig January this year) and this album captures the bands first three albums and on the way to ending their stint together at this time and was the last album released before the band broke up

This album captures one of the greatest live bands at their peak. Raw, powerful, energetic and simply enjoying what they do best, entertaining their fans. I guess I love this album so much because I've seen the syndicate play live for the last 40 years and it's one of my greatest musical experiences.
The album itself has everything you wanted from Dream Syndicate at the time, including the quintessential live version of John Coltrane Stereo Blues. The whole alum is glorious from start to finish. A wonderful thing

Link

A Century of Jazz: Time Journey - 1984

Fischman — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:23:26 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 04/26/2026 22:23

... jazzing the journey into 1984...

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Ernestine Anderson - When the Sun Goes Down
Year: 1984
Style or Subgenre: Vocal Jazz, Blues
I landed on 1984 on Saturday night, so it was time to throw a vocal album into the mix. I loved my last Ernestine Anderson listen, so I was pleased to see she had an album in that year. Another treat this was. More blues than jazz really, this is a set of 12 bar tunes, but all delivered with Anderson's jazzy phrasing and swinging sensibility. Best of both worlds I say. I could listen to this anytime.

Link

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Weather Report - Domino Theory
Year: 1984
Style or Subgenre: Fusion
1984 turned out also to be a good time to pick up some unfamiliar Weather Report. There's really quite a variety on this album. This isn't just standard issue fusion at all, but a little bit of everything including the kitchen sing. Truth be told, the opening vocal number didn't knowck my socks off, but the message of trying tofind something new that hasn't been done already seems an appropriate kickoff for the experimentalism to follow. That said, for some reason, my highlight on the initial listen was a song called "The Peasant," with shades of Enya being the fusion element. Whooda' thunk it?

Link

Larcx's Music Diary

Johnnyo — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:14:42 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 04/25/2026 09:14

Larcx13 wrote:

Recently discovered:
70s/80s Punk band Stiff Little Fingers
Ukrainian Rock Bez Obmezhen
Ukrainian rappers YARMAK, Tylum, & KALUSH
Mexican pianist Gibran Alcocer
Ukrainian pop SHUMEI

Songs on repeat:
Moya Kraina by YARMAK
Stefania by KALUSH
Lyudy Titany by Kozak System
Volossya by SHUMEI
Idea 10 by Gibran Alcocer
Kvitka by Okean Elzy
Yak Nikoliy by Okean Elzy
Dodomu by KALUSH
Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub
Lytsarskiy Krest by Tartak
Duren by Boombox

Patiently awaiting Motor'Rolla's new album released in 3 days. Featuring songs like Cnihom, Liniya, Miy Nepodilniy, and more...

Okean Elzy's new album "Toy Den" was great. The songs Mukachevo and Yak Nikoliy were amazing.

Otherwise I went back to listen to some classics in The Replacements, Husker Du, Steely Dan, Digable Planets, CCR, among others.

Still Little Fingers eh!

I remember seeing them in around 1980. Totally manic and a great live band but chaos. Never really got into their albums but live they kicked the proverbial. I think that they are still touring

Crate of cassettes

Johnnyo — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 05:36:32 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 03/04/2026 10:36

461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) by Eric Clapton

This was a pleasant find. I already have it obviously but nice to listen to again. My favourite Clapton album

The Greatest Album Openers

Johnnyo — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:14:21 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/28/2026 14:14

Link

Opener from

Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979) by Thin Lizzy

Following the kettle drums you've then got that great guitar opener from Gary. a great track, a great album

My Wishlist (Should I or shouldn't I)

Johnnyo — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:53:53 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/22/2026 09:53

Romanelli wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

So here's the first one

Blues After Hours (1960) by Elmore James And The Broom Dusters

I love the blues so I'm thinking that this is a must have. If you think that I should own it how good is the quality of the vinyl on a 1960 pressing? would it be better to buy a reissue?

Any thought would be greatly appreciated

If you're looking at getting it on the original vinyl from 1960 as a collector's piece, maybe. For it to be worth anything, it would have to be in pristine condition, which, after 66 years, is not likely.

If you're looking at the musical content, there are many better ways to go with an artist like Elmore James. Blues After Hours is VERY skimpy at 10 songs and 28 minutes. It has a few good songs, but it's hardly a great album. It's basically a compilation of singles he recorded for the Flair label, which folded in 1955. There's a 2024 reissue that has 6 bonus tracks that would be a much better deal. But if you're looking to get into Elmore James, I would recommend this:

The Sky Is Crying: The History Of Elmore James (1993) by Elmore James

This 1993 compilation was not released on vinyl, but it is pretty excellent, and it's essential Elmore James. The CD version is 21 tracks, including the original 1951 version of his best known song, "Dust My Broom" ("Dust My Blues" from Blues After Hours is NOT the same song!). Plus you get a 16 page booklet with good liner notes, photos, and detailed personnel for each song.

Unrelated...this thread might really be better served in the Music forum. Any objections to it being moved there?

Thanks Rom. That's so useful. going to delete it from my Wishlist and add your recommendation. Really appreciate you taking the time to reply and the feedback

I debated whether this thread fits into Music Forum or Diaries. Happy for you to move to Forum

This DVD Came With My Album!

Johnnyo — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 14:08:26 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/09/2026 19:08

Live Through The Past, Darkly (2024) by The Dream Syndicate

This is the reason we need to buy a new DVD player. Haven’t replaced our old (broken) one but as this live album has come with a DVD, got to be done. Most consistent and brilliant live band in history